Official Denon AH-C700 Comparisons/Impressions - Page 21

Originally Posted by antonyfirst

Can you provide us an head to head comparison between the C700 an E500? In which regards do you think that the latter stomps the Denon? I'm asking, because I found the Shures limited in many regards.

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict

I was only meaning to talk about bass, in reference to the subject matter at hand. Taking snippets from my posts, and smashing them together, it would/should have said,

"...the E500 do have more speed, punch, thump, depth, ...hit harder and feel more visceral, while the C700 are certainly not lacking [in the bass]..."

The sound signature is just different - the E500 are more mellow in the mids and upper range, and less bright, but still well detailed and intricate, and have stomping bass that to my ears does NOT overpower the rest of the music.

The C700 are more bright and up front, but with a snappy and ever-present bassline, kinda like Sennheiser HD25-1 or Beyer DT231 headphones. They don't overwhealm with bass, but never leave you feeling it is lacking either. But, like the HD25-1 or DT231, they don't have the detail or impact of properly amped and cabled HD600's.

The C700's are kinda like taking a small bookshelf loudspeaker and turning on the loudness control - at lower (i.e. normal) volumes they will sound as good as the bigger more expensive speakers. But, crank them up and they don't have the same sonic impact, but the speed isn't missing as claimed elsewhere, and speed isn't what causes the softer bass. Maybe it is driver diaphragm surface area, or voicecoil travel limitations instead.

So....

Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict

I paid the full $199 at a local store in July because I fell in love with them right there, and they were so new that I didn't think there would be online deals yet. (I didn't know they came out in Feb 07).

Also, I don't feel that they completely "soften the thump because they are slow". Even using Shure Orange Foam tips I played some drum solo's and they hit almost as quickly as my other IEM with balanced armatures. Previously I had spent a lot of time listening to one track in particular for a buyer right before I sold my SE310 and had compaired them back then (Tord Gustavsen Trio, Being There album, Track 7 "Karmosin"), and they seemed to be close to the SE310 in speed, with a little more amplitude.

I tried them again this morning vs my E500 now that I don't have the SE310's to compare to, and they Denon are just as good as I remember; but while they could beat the SE310 in a lot of things I feel the E500 still stomp the Denon. The C700 still hold up very well vs the new competition with the hit of the bass drum and string bass, although the E500 do have more of everything (speed, punch, thump, depth).

I put on some electronic music with synth bass (Jean-Michel Jarre, MTV music maker trance music), and the C700 give me all the bass impact I need but again, the E500 hit harder and feel more visceral, while the C700 are certainly not lacking. They C700 go quite low with synth bass, certainly below 32hz. Again, this is with Shure Orange Foamies.

The Denon silicon tips speeds up the bass a little, but I am not taking them off now to try that again because I always detroy the orange foamies trying to get them off.

HERE IS ANOTHER EYE OPENER - MY 3G IPOD NANO KICKS BUTT ON THE MACBOOK FOR ITUNES SOUND QUALITY, INCLUDING BASS IMPACT. OMG!!! I can't stand the Macbook without my iBasso D1 DAC/AMP anymore - using the macbook and itunes as a source makes the C700 sound like poooo So, make sure you have a good source before you complain about the headphones.

Originally Posted by tstarn06

I just ordered some of the Shure orange foams for the Denons, because I am having a little problem with fit/comfort using the silicone sleeves. The mediums are a little tight, and the smalls lose bass. They just don't feel comfortable, not compared to the Shure olives on the Atrios or the PK1 simple ear bud covers. I wonder if that comfort thing is affecting my feelings about the Denon SQ. I mean, I like them a lot, but when you are not comfortable, it can affect the way you feel about an ear/head phone.

Worth the try, since you seem to like them. I chose mediums. Hope it helps.

Originally Posted by soozieq

Hey Tony, your 'great' idea just cost me 45 mins after I'd included all the links. . . and then shut the wrong page down

You're right, it was a good idea. I've put as many comparison/impression links right at the bottom of my own 'review' on Page 1.

I can add to it once you're able to compare them with the Etys. For now at least, new 'viewers' can check out most of the info they want/need from those links.